Devan’s middle name is Jay. Yes, he is named after Jay Gatsby. I read The Great Gatsby for the first time in my late 30’s when I was pregnant with doodlebug in 2006. I fell so in love with Gatsby’s story and the hypnotizing fluidity of the way F. Scott Fitzgerald married the words together on the page. My eyes absorbed each and every syllable tingling the sensations in my brain the way no other book has.
The other night after dinner we were watching TV and a commercial for the movie, which is out this weekend, came on. They all know this is my favorite book and how Devan’s middle name was chosen but they don’t know the story, nor should they at ages 6 and 8. Devan, who is now glued to the screen with all the glitter, celebrating and toasting of glasses looks at me and says ” Mom, why did you name me after The Great Gatsby? How could you name me after something that is inappropriate for kids?” I laughed to myself. If he only knew. Something tells me he has a pretty good clue, though.
